The White House has offered a range of reasons why a series of unflattering videos of President Joe Biden have surfaced on the internet.
Press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre dismissed the videos, including two last week of former President Barack Obama and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni appearing to help Biden during public events, as “cheap fakes,” a play on the term “deepfake.”
“The right-wing critics of the president have a credibility problem,” Jean-Pierre told reporters Monday. “It tells you everything we need to know about how desperate Republicans are. Instead of talking about the president’s performance in office, we’re seeing these deep fakes, these manipulated videos.”
“What they’re doing is pure bad faith, and it’s been fact-checked by many, including conservative media,” she said.
The White House specifically criticized reports last weekend that Biden froze as he and Obama were applauded after their conversation with late-night host Jimmy Kimmel during a campaign fundraiser in Hollywood. The press secretary also criticized reports that suggested Obama guided his former vice president off stage.
“Presidents Biden and Obama have a relationship,” Jean-Pierre said Monday. “They are friends. They are like family to each other. … That is what you saw.”
Days earlier in Italy, Meloni similarly assisted Biden on the sidelines of the G7 summit when he stepped away from the group of leaders to speak with one of the people who took part in a skydiving demonstration they had watched.
Since R’s don’t like to post the full frame or the clip, here ya go.
Biden was interacting w/ the skydivers. Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni lets Biden know there’s a presentation of sorts, so he rejoins the group.#fuckthegop pic.twitter.com/ZOK65JA2c8— Elongated Muskrat (@PamBalamm) June 13, 2024
After repeated questioning during her briefing Monday, Jean-Pierre also defended Biden for “not dancing” during last week’s Juneteenth celebrations at the White House.
“Ok, let’s talk about Juneteenth,” she said. “The president was there listening to the music and he didn’t dance. Excuse me, I did not know not dancing was a health issue. That’s a weird thing to flag.”
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
Polls indicate voters, including Democrats, have concerns about Biden’s age, though the president, elected officials, and other party members remain adamant about his fitness for office.
“I can do it better than anybody you know,” Biden told Time this month of his capacity to execute the responsibilities of the presidency. “You’re looking at me, I can take you too.”
